{{{ [Another long, good review... click through! -Ben] Allow me to preface this by saying I haven't slept but a few hours in two daze, so pardon the sloppy typing. Also, if all you want is aftershow information, go to the end this story. For the rest of you...
First I must give much props to the fams of the big D. You guys showed Prince so much love last night. Of the many shows I've witnessed over the many years, your energy and enthuthiasm from last night rivals only that of the Houston crowd in '88. It was a great pleasure for me to share in the "Joy" with you. Thanks for making a couple of Houston fellas feel at home. And a big H-town shout out to Stacie (good job girl), Marcus (way to get on stage bro), the dude in the front row who sang in the mic (you got Prince good dude), the young man whom I, no WE helped get into the pit on the front row (remember to show the same courtesy to someone else in the future), the radio dude from Little Rock (see you on air one day), the nice couple I ended up sitting next to (enjoy honeymoon celebration) and everyone else who I got to meet yesterday...}}}
My report begins two days earlier in Houston. I got see the show (complete with soundcheck) on Sunday, but left feeling a little empty. The performance was great, but I was under the weather, and the absence of "Anna Stesia" for the finale was slightly disappointing, I guess that's what I get for reading setlists before hand. Anyway, there was a lot of distraction in general for me that day so my experince fell short for reasons that mostlt had nothing to do with Prince. Needless to say that I was glad to have a trump card in the form of tix for the Dallas show two days later. "Next time u betta pull an ace muthafu..."
How about the ace of spades...
Me and my man, Big M pulled into the Fairfax Parking lot at about 3:30. I was very pleased to find fams displaying the same kind of consideration and fairness in the form of a sign-up list for line placement as there was in Houston. And with the exception of a few line breakers, everyone respected each other's position and space. To the tourquoise lady, as she was called, I still have love for you. I'm sure that last night was very important to you, and I understand. But I do hope that you learned something from your actions yesterday, and that next time you might show the same consideration to fellow fam members as they were willing to show to you. No grudges held here, and hopefully not from anyone else...
About 6:15ish, a siren started blaring as though it was an airraid. Actually, it was a tornado warning, so we were usherred into the building and down to the basement to wait things out. While this was going on, a couple from a limo (not on the list), bum- rushed the line. I'll get to them in a minute. All of the staff were very friendly and professional. 30 minutes later, they started letting us into the remainder of the soundcheck It was supposedly closed to members for some reason, but Prince (dressed in black flares and buorgandy and black velvet collarless pullover) stayed and jammed a few numbers. One of which I was oh so lucky to see, and hear, "Paisley Park".
Following this great moment in R&R history, we were then subjected to, what appeared to be a drug exerience gone way-bad. One of our limo-riding line-cutting fools, now sitting right next to yours truly, started "a hootin' and a hollerin'" at Prince about her religious beliefs, including a backwards-type, (for lack of another word), prayer that had most of us thinking this was bad and getting worse. Prince handled it very well and then very politely excussed himself. That's when i took a little action of my own...
I took it upon myself to speak to folks with the venue and the music club about what could end up being a very unpleasant experience. For many of us, who WERE acting like we had some home training, we were growing more and more concerned about the volatility of this situation. After a short while, they (the powers that be) handled the situation swiftly and quietly. A young boy (about 12) and his mom replaced these two. We all slid over and let him sit on the FRONT row. To those two line-breakers, all I can say is that you didn't earn those seats. Justice was served...
The show started at about 9:10 (it was slated for 9:00) with a much better version "TRC" than I heard in Houston. Prince was clean in black flares, black shirt and grey suit jacket. He danced more than he did in H-town. His voice was great (didn't miss once). His playing was on the point as was the rest of the band. It was a very solid show...
The setlist was good, and tight. The piano medley was differant than Houston with no "Free", "Sometimes it Snows in April", "Starfish and Coffee" or "I Love u, but..." We did, however, get "Diamonds and Pearls", "The Beautiful Ones" a longer version of "Adore" and a very full and completely satisfying, "Joy in Repetition". All in all, the set was typical for this tour with the exception of two VERY BIG fam-pleasers;"Joy in Repetition", and the reinsertion of "Anna Stesia" including the "Rise" portion of "TRC" which concluded the 2 and 1/2 concert. At this point, I was ready to go home very happy. WRONG... Allow me to break it down for you...
Aftershow... starting time, 1:50am... Very close and intimate stage... Guests were Ericka Badu and Buddy Miles... Front of stage reserved for club members and guests... "Didn't Cha' Know" (w/Ericka)... "When You Were Mine" (instr. warmup)... upbeat instr with entire band on stage(maybe "Another Star" by Stevie W.)... "The Ride"... blues improv w/ Buddy Miles... "Alphabet St."... down-tempo instr... "Pass the Peas"... Prince on bass for "777-9311" intro and a new song called "Touch" (mostly instr)... "Calhoun Square"... "Beautiful Strange"... "The Rainbow Children" w/ "Rise" outro... finishing time, 3:10am.....
So in conclusion, after a tornado, line-breakers, fanatical fits, very cool club member solidarity, an awesome concert, and a mind blowing aftershow performance, I was literally swept away...
Thank u Prince, Dallas, NPGMC and, most of all, the Power that be.

Peace, and keep it on the 1, Peter V.

Hi Ben, do you need an assistant?

How the song "touch" sounds like?

"Touch" was a funk groove similar to the live version of "Come". It was very reminiscent of that in the way he had us chanting the word 'touch'. The music had more emphasis on the 2 and 4. Sounded like a work in progress. It appears to me that a lot of Xenophobia is instrumental. It's my early impression that it my have a Madhouse 8 (the album) feel to it. Can't wait!!! Peter V.

peterv said:

thank u very much 4 your response Peter.